A new resident in the fruit and nut bar aisle

I’m a snacker. I don’t really do meals. I pick. But that means I sometimes get hungry at random times and being a vegan, it’s not always quite so easy to grab something quick to eat just anywhere.

That’s why I surround myself with snack foods – and LaraBars are my usual go-to. LaraBars have gotten me through Italy and Ireland. They’ve gotten me through hectic days at work when there’s been no time to run out and grab lunch. And, LaraBars have gotten me through weekends when I’ve been heading out to meet friends but just need a little something until we get where we’re going for dinner.

I keep them in my desk drawer, my handbag, my work bag and even my glove compartment – and, yes, I have proof that all except the Joco ones do survive the Florida heat… a little soft, but they survive.

What I love about LaraBars is that they generally have only about 4-6 ingredients and I’m pretty sure that never includes honey or agave – the two sweeteners that make me nervous. Instead, they generally have a base of dates, one or two nuts for fat and fiber, and the flavoring like ginger or cocoa or apple. And, they’re filling.

If I had to find a downside, it’s that sometimes they can be too filling. They’re so tasty that I can’t always put them down after a bite or two and end up finishing the whole bar, which means I then get so full I’m not hungry for dinner.

But, I digress. Back to the topic at hand.

Lara has long been in a category all of her own. Even some of the other brands that I love like Vega and Garden of Life all still have agave, which is great for most people, just not for me.

And not that I don’t love my LaraBars, but I’m still always on a quest for new easy to eat foods that have minimal ingredients and none of the ‘stuff’ my body doesn’t like.

Then, at Rollin’ Oats the other day, I stumbled upon something I’d never seen before!

The bars are named after Kit Crawford, the co-owner of Clif Bars. As she describes them on their site, they’re a “delightful celebration of just how delicious simple can be.”

And, Delicious they are.

Like I said, I went for the berry for my first try. It’s heavy on the berry, light on the date, which means it doesn’t sit in your stomach like some bars can do. It has a nice tartness to it from the barberries and bilberries.

I love that they went with these unique berries and not the typical cherry, strawberry or raspberry. Barberries have anti-inflammatory properties and are known to help digestion and aid in stomach aches. Bilberries actually stop diarrhea and are known to be good for your eyes, even being proven to improve vision and other eye disorders.

I will definitely be adding these to my bar collection and will be giving the other flavors a try too!